Unshelved Tackles Tamora Pierce

OK, not literally, but this last Sunday's Unshelved Book Club comic featured her book Alanna: The First Adventure. This is the first book in the Song of the Lioness quartet. All you Tamora Pierce fans should take a look!

Only 4 More Days!

Since I'm already beating Marissa, I figured what the heck...

Don't forget about our author visit on Friday night!!! Barry Lyga, author of the sarcastic and hilarious book The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, will be appearing in the main library at 7 pm. Woot!

Books will be $11 each, which is $6 off the cover price and cheaper than Amazon.com! Go us!!!

Come and Get 'Em

Middle school book group members, your copies of Money Hungry by Sharon Flake have arrived. Stop by anytime to pick them up. Our next meeting is Friday, November 17 at 3:30!

I Can't Resist a Challenge

OK, so Marissa says I've had more Fanboy and Goth Girl posts than she's had Eragon posts. I had to go back and check the archives.

Here's my scorecard:

Fanboy and Goth Girl posts by Gretchen:

1. We're On Barry Lyga's Event Calendar
2. Real Live Author Visit
3. Book Review: Fanboy and Goth Girl
4. Yet More about Fanboy and Goth Girl
5. More about Fanboy and Goth Girl
6. Fanboy and Goth Girl

Eragon posts by Marissa:

1. 48 More Days
2. Vote for Eragon
3. Eragon Movie
4. Eragon

OK, Marissa, you win this round... Grrrrr...

Vampires' Ball

Last night, 14 teens attended the TAB's vampire party, and almost everyone wore a costume. It was a small group but lots of fun! We watched movie clips from The Lost Boys and Blade Trinity (thanks to Alexa) and Interview with the Vampire (thanks to Kara). We also decorated cupcakes to look like Dracula and did some vampire Mad-Libs. But the best event of the night, IMHO, was the contest where people had to eat goblets of clotted blood (black cherry jello and grapes) while wearing vampire teeth!

This event was planned and produced by our Teen Advisory Board, who are the coolest. The TAB worked hard to make decorations for the room, so there were lots of appropriate posters of vampirish items. Tyria and Kaitlyn came early to set up and Tyria, Laura, Julie, and Kara helped tear everything down at the end. Kara provided a sufficiently creepy vampire soundtrack for the party, too.

Sorry to everyone who missed this event! Check out our photos below...

Making Dracula cupcakes

Really gross game...

Group photo!

Vampire gang signs?

Real live vamp!!!

Hey since we just had the Dracula ball and Halloween is coming up I thought id post a pic of my friend Jason who I think seriously looks like a vamp!!!!
He doesnt always look this creepy!!!

http://myspace-328.vo.llnwd.net/01263/82/30/1263930328_l.jpg

48 more days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok. I know im ubsessed with this movie and all, but in all fairness I think gretchen has put up more Fanboy Gothgirl posts. This movie , Eragon comes out in 48 days!!!! So I just wanted to remind everyone who checks out this site to vote for Eragon this month, and to let me know, either through Gretchen or through my myspace @ myspace.com/mmgirl100 who wants to come with to c this movie. It would b really kool if we got alot of people from the Lirbrary to all come out and c the movie togeather, especially if we discuss the book in book group!!!!!! Please, Please, Please vote for this book!!!!!!!!

Eragon websites:

http://www.shurtugal.com/
http://www.alagaesia.com/
http://www.eragonmovie.com/

Book Review: Crooked

Crooked by Tom McNeal and Laura McNeal

SUMMARY: Clara Wilson, 14, has a crooked nose, a best friend who deserts her, and parents who argue all the time. When her mother accepts a teaching job in Spain, Clara feels abandoned and resentful. Fellow ninth-grader Amos MacKenzie has parents who embarrass him, and keep secrets from him. He enjoys a newfound popularity after being attacked by the town bad boys, Charles and Eddie Tripp, but is lost and confused when his father unexpectedly dies. His budding relationship with Clara is his only consolation. When the Tripp brothers vow revenge on Amos for reporting them to the police, he and Clara face intimidation, which draws them even closer together. In a dramatic climax, the Tripps break into her house and corner her in the attic. The characters' actions and reactions ring true as they try to cope with all of the changes that life has dealt them and still maintain a grasp on who they are. (excerpted from Library Journal)

OPINION: I hadn't heard of it before, but this book was recommended to me as one that might be good for a book discussion group. The sprawling, atmospheric story is told in chapters that alternate between Amos and Clara's points of view. I liked the complexity of Amos and Clara's lives, and the way their stories intertwined. The unique storytelling style and the compelling characters kept me interested even when the plot seemed to be dragging. In my opinion, the dramatic ending of the book was far too short for the length of time I was reading to get there. I don't think I will use it for our book discussion groups, but I think it would be a good book to curl up with for an afternoon of reading and hot chocolate.

New Members for the TAB!

This November, the Teen Advisory Board will be two years old! As the group becomes more of a library institution, we are making some changes. This fall, we introduced a membership application. Several people applied for the few spots available on the board. Yesterday, the group reviewed the applications and voted in three new members. They are Caitlin (grade 11), Maria (grade 10), and DJ (grade 9). If your application was not accepted, don't worry. We'll keep it on file, or you can apply again in the future!

Our First Ever Book Swap!

Yesterday's TRW Book Swap and Read-In was attended by 13 ____________ (plural noun) . About 40 ____________ (plural noun) were swapped. The teens spent time __________ (verb ending in ing) and eating __________ (noun) . Marissa brought some __________ (plural noun) for the group to listen to. Megan read aloud a/an __________ (adjective) story. But the group spend most of the time playing a/an ___________ (adjective) game where you fill in the __________ (plural noun) with random words. We should do this again sometime!!!

Swapping books is serious.

Swapping books is fun!

Get Active...Take a Teen Reading Survey!

To celebrate Teen Read Week, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is asking you to complete an online reading survey offered by SmartGirl.org. You can complete the survey on the SmartGirl Web site at http://www.smartgirl.org/surveys/5853570.html from now until October 31, 2006.

Now in its ninth year, Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative of YALSA. The theme for Teen Read Week 2006, "Get Active! @ your library®," encourages you to find books on sports, fitness, volunteerism, activism, college preparation, career direction, and more at your library.

Get Active...Swap a Book!

Tomorrow afternoon, drop by between 12:30 and 4:30 for the TAB's Teen Read Week Book Swap and Read-In! You can stop in to swap, or stay to read and earn Library Bucks. Bring as many books as you want, as long as they are intermediate or YA paperback fiction in good condition. We will be upstairs in the programming room, so come on up!

MS Book Group Report

Today, the middle school book discussion group met to discuss Monster by Walter Dean Myers. It is the third non-standard format book we've read in a row. The discussion was really interesting, and we had the best attendance ever...10 people! Next month, we'll be discussing Money Hungry by Sharon Flake. If you are in 7th or 8th grade, join our group! There is plenty of room, and we welcome new people.

Get Active...Vote for Next Year's Theme

Tired of my Get Active posts? Vote for next year's Teen Read Week theme! Your choices are Crack the Code @ Your Library, LOL @ Your Library, or Explore the Future @ Your Library. Vote for your favorite one this week!

New Teen Nonfic!

Several new books are now in our teen nonfic section, and I think they will be very popular! Here are the titles:

• Too Stressed to Think? A Teen Guide to Staying Sane When Life Makes You Crazy by Annie Fox and Ruth Kirschner
• I Wanna Make My Own Clothes by Clea Hantman
• I Wanna Re-Do My Room by Clea Hantman
• Safe Sex 101: An Overview for Teens by Margaret O. Hyde and Elizabeth H. Forsyth
• Immersed in Verse: An Informative, Slightly Irreverent, and Totally Tremendous Guide to Living the Poet's Life by Allan Wolf

Interview with M. T. Anderson

Since the HS book group recently read Feed, I thought you might be interested in reading an interview with M. T. Anderson about his new book, called The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: Volume 1: The Pox Party. It's quite a title, but it's also quite a book--and it's getting really good reviews. Look for it at the library!

Peeps Is Here

High school book group members, come and get your copies of Peeps by Scott Westerfeld! They are all set for you to pick up. Inside each one, I put flyers for upcoming programs and a poster with a note requesting your help. See you soon!

A World Wide Problem

Did you know on average 10 people per minute are infected with AIDS?
This web site is something I stumbled upon about a year ago. Some of you may notice I wear a necklace that simply says "HEAR". This is one of the Empowerment tags Aldo is selling to help raise AIDS awareness. Please just read the facts on this web page and if it doesn't make your heart skip a beat, well I have nothing else to say. Ever since I found this site I have been passionate about this, encouraging people I know to buy the Empowerment tag and help win this fight. AIDS can not be removed from this society with out people knowing the facts. There are three different tags: "HEAR", "SEE", and "SPEAK". There are many different ways to wear them and only cost $5. If you believe in this cause spread the word. Hear the facts, See the problem, and Speak the truth.

Get Active...Vote for the Teens' Top Ten

Did you read Twilight? Eldest? Rebel Angels? Peeps? Art Geeks and Prom Queens? Harry Potter #6? You NEED to vote for this year's Teens' Top Ten list. There are 22 possible titles, and we have most of them in our library. You've probably read at least 3 of them, and that's all you need to do to vote!

Get Active...Attend a Program!

We have so many upcoming programs, you can certainly find one you're interested in!

Teen Read Week Book Swap and Read-In
Saturday, October 21, from 12:30 to 4:30
Vampires' Ball
Friday, October 27, from 6:30 to 8:30
Barry Lyga Author Visit
Friday, November 3, from 7:00 to 8:30
Word Game Night
Friday, November 10, from 6:30 to 8:30
Knitting Club
Tuesdays from 3:45 to 4:45, beginning November 7

Yard Sale $$$

The TAB owes great homage to Kara and Tyria, who single-handedly ran the yard sale on Saturday. Kara did the morning shift, and Tyria did the afternoon. The TAB earned $66.25 toward winter and spring programming. Thank you, thank you, thank you Kara and Tyria for being so dedicated to the TAB! We really couldn't have done it without you!!!

And to all of you who had to take the SATs that day, I hope you got high scores!!

It's TRW, So Get Active @ Your Library

October 15 to 21 is Teen Read Week, and this year's theme is Get Active @ Your Library. Hence all the posts that start with "Get Active..."! There will be many more to follow this week.

Celebrate TRW by checking out a book, looking at the TAB's lobby display, signing up for a future program, or attending our book swap and read-in on October 21 from 12:30 to 4:30 pm!

Get Active...Sign Up for Vampire's Ball!

So far, 21 teens have signed up for our Vampires' Ball on October 27 from 6:30 to 8:30! This will be a great costume event with movies, games, and prizes. There is still room for you, so visit or call the library ASAP!! The TAB has been working hard to plan this event and create decorations...check out the photos below.

A giant vampire mouth!

Stamping bats

Painting a graveyard scene

Famous YA Quiltmakers

I got this month's Delaware County Library System newsletter yesterday, and there was a short article in it about the quilt that the YA Book Group made for Nat last spring!!! Our library director submitted the article, as well as the photo I took when you gave it to me (posted below). Now it hangs in Nat's nursery behind his crib. He always looks at it and laughs at the bright colors. His first word will probably be ELMO, thanks to you...

So cool.

THE END Is Here!

Today, fittingly, is the release of the final Series of Unfortunate Events book, called The End. I can't wait to read it! If you want to know what finally happens to the Baudelaire orphans, head to a library or bookstore near you!!

And if you are a diehard fan, enter the Beatrice Letters contest. Winners' letters will be read aloud by Lemony Snicket and posted to the Series of Unfortunate Events website!

Stormbreaker, the Movie!

Tonight is the limited US theater release of Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker. This movie is based on Stormbreaker, the first book in the Alex Rider spy series by Anthony Horowitz. I am a huge fan of the book, so I hope the movie is good, but it got mixed reviews in England. Still, check it out if you have a chance. It's always good to support movies made from YA books!! And, if nothing else, check out the website for the movie, which has cool concept art and a contest you can enter.

Get Active...Check Out a NEW Book!

Guess what this post is about!? Here's the latest...and a lot of them can be found on display in the teen corner!

FICTION

• Mercy, Unbound by Kim Antieau
• The Shakespeare Stealer (replacement copy) by Gary Blackwood
• Wild Orchid by Beverley Brenna
• The Freedom of Jenny by Julie Burtinshaw
• Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita
• Ingo by Kelen Dunmore
• Bass Ackwards and Belly Up by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
• Four Things My Geeky-Jock-of-a-Best-Friend Must Do in Europe by Jane Harrington
• The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes
• The Floating Island by Elizabeth Haydon
• Born to Rock by Gordon Korman
• Magic or Madness and Magic Lessons by Justine Larbalestier (FYI--wife of Scott Westerfeld)
• The Two Loves of Will Shakespeare by Laurie Lawlor
• The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
• Pirate Curse by Kai Meyer
• In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber by L. A. Meyer
• Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kirsten Miller
• After the Wreck, I Picked Myself Up, Spread My Wings, and Flew Away by Joyce Carol Oates
• Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

GRAPHIC NOVELS

• Castle in the Sky, volumes 1 to 4
• Howl's Moving Castle, volumes 1 to 4
• My Neighbor Totoro, volumes 1 to 4
• Spirited Away, volumes 1 to 5

Thank You

Huge thanks to TAB members Megan, Julie, Tyria, Laura, and Marissa for helping price and organize stuff for the yard sale! You are the best!!!

Don't forget, the library book sale/yard sale is this Saturday from 10 to 3!

We're on Barry Lyga's Event Calendar!

I have been busy working on promoting our Fanboy and Goth Girl author talk and book signing, and it is great to see us on Barry's calendar! Our event will be on November 3 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Tell everyone you know! If you want to see our entry on his calendar, just go to the Fanboy and Goth Girl site, click "Event Calendar," and click the forward arrow to load November's events. If you click on our name, then another window with more description pops up. Woohoo! Come in and put a hold on the book so you can read it before November 3!

Supernatural-Themed YA Authors Cafe Tonight

Tonight's YA Authors Cafe Chat will be have a supernatural theme in honor of Halloween. Guest Host Marlene Perez will interview guests Melissa de la Cruz, author of BLUE BLOODS (a vampire book), and Bev Katz Rosenbaum, author of I WAS A TEENAGE POPSICLE.

The chats are held on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. EST, 5:30 Pacific. Go to http://www.yaauthorscafe.com/ and click the chatroom icon to enter the chat. No downloads necessary! Hang out and chat with real YA authors!!

Get Active...Visit Our Display!

Last week, four TAB members decorated the lobby display case in honor of Teen Read Week, which will be celebrated from October 15 to 21 this year. The theme is Get Active @ Your Library, so the items in the display case represent the TAB's interpretation of what it means to be active. They used library books, TRW promo materials, and personal items to create the display.

On a table under the case, you can find info about lots of upcoming events. Check out the pix below, then take a walk through the lobby and admire the TAB's work! And don't forget to sign up for programs in the Children's Library!!

Adding artwork to the background

Hanging pencils to decorate the edges

The completed TRW 2006 display case!

Get Active...Enter a Contest!

To go along with the "Get Active" them of Teen Read Week, ALA's Washington Office is challenging teens to create a theme and design a logo for the 2007 National Library Legislative Day. The teen with the winning logo gets a trip to Washington DC for two. To find out more, go to: http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/nlld/nlld2007contest.htm Teens ages 12-18 are eligible, and the deadline to participate is October 29th.

What is Library Legislative Day? It's a two-day event in which people who care about libraries participate virtually or face to face by taking part in advocacy training sessions, interacting with Capitol Hill insiders, and visiting congressional offices to ask Congress to pass legislation that supports libraries. In 2007 it will be held May 2 and 3. Find out about this event here: http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/events.htm

Unshelved's Version of The City of Ember

This past Sunday's Unshelved Book Club cartoon featured The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau! This book has a sequel, The People of Sparks, and a newly-released prequel, The Prophet of Yonwood. Look for all three in the Teen Corner. We have them in print and on CD.

Best Juggler In The World!

Okay So theres this guy named Vova Galchenko, he's an 19 year old immigrant from Russia and is the best juggler in the world. Seriously he and his sister have that title!
This video is just of him but its still so cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEb3YknGUks

Pumpkin Dip Recipe

Some people at HS book group wondered how to make pumpkin dip, so here's the recipe. It makes a lot, so you might want to cut the amounts in half for a small group.

In large bowl, combine 2 8-oz. packages of softened cream cheese, 1 30-oz. can of pumpkin, 4 c. powdered sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon, and 2 tsp. nutmeg. Mix with mixer on medium setting until smooth. Refrigerate dip if not serving immediately. Serve with graham crackers, spice cookies, or apples for dipping.

Now you know. Enjoy!!!

Film at 11

Did anyone else see the UDHS marching band on the 11:00 news on NBC? Alexa told some TAB members about it last Thursday. It was really cool...they were live in the parking lot! Although I didn't see Alexa or Tariq (Did they have any shots of the tenor sax section?), it was so much fun to have UD as the marching band of the week!

HS Book Report

Today, the high school book discussion group met to discuss Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser. This book deals with school shootings. Last month, when we selected the book, it was more abstract than reality. But, then, there have been 3 school shootings in the last week, and now it's a hot topic again. So, the discussion today was heartfelt and personal, even though it was about a fictitious event. It was the best discussion we've had in a while, covering topics like school safety, gun control, bullying, school spirit and sports, and the responsibilities of adults. We could have gone on for hours. You guys are the best!

Next month, we will meet to discuss Peeps, a modern vampire book, by Scott Westerfeld. Excellent!!

New from John Green

If you liked Looking for Alaska, you should check out John Green's new YA book An Abundance of Katherines.

Here's a summary: When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type happens to be girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact. He’s also a washedup child prodigy with ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a passion for anagrams, and an overweight, Judge Judy-obsessed best friend. Colin’s on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which will predict the future of all relationships, transform him from a fading prodigy into a true genius, and finally win him the girl.

One fun thing...the relationship predictor described in the book is actually available on John Green's website. Try it out!

Something to Do If You're LGBTQ

Want to help promote library services, resources, and friendly environments for teens of diverse sexualities and genders across the country? If you're 13-19 years of age, you can fill out the Library Services for Sexually and Gender-Diverse Teens survey. This survey is completely anonymous, and the results will help in writing a book for librarians to use in selecting resources and planning programs that are inclusive. This survey is looking for the voices and experiences of teens who identify as LGBTQ, but also for any teens who don't follow traditional scripts of gender in their attractions, their partners, or themselves. If this is you, take a few minutes and voice your opinions on the survey.

Oh no they didn't!

Some people are so ignorant. This is a link to Brent Hartinger's most recent livejournal post. Since we're on the subject of banned books, I thought this woul be appropriate!


http://brentsbrain.livejournal.com/31073.html

No, I do not stalk him. Shut up.

Free Book Before Anyone Else!

Wow! I just received an email saying I was selected to get an advanced reading copy of Breathe by Penni Russon! I know isn't that soo cool?!?! I can't wait! and this is my first post soo... yippiee to me on both counts....

Oh and did anyone see Dane Cook on SNL on saturday? If not here's the intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLcgKb0NGMI
He was soo funny!

How Did Amy Get a Free ARC???

Well, she joined the HarperTeen FirstLook program. I joined too, but I didn't get picked...you probably have a better chance if you are a teen! Here's last month's blog post about it:

http://sellerslibraryteens.blogspot.com/2006/09/read-em-before-you-can-buy-em.html

Book Review: The Last Days

The Last Days by Scott Westerfeld
**a sequel to Peeps**

SUMMARY: Strange things are happening: old friends are disappearing, angels are clambering on the fire escapes of New York City. But for Pearl, Moz, and Zahler, all that matters is the band. As the city reels under a mysterious epidemic, the three combine their talents with a vampire lead singer and a drummer whose fractured mind can glimpse the coming darkness. Will their music stave off the end? Or summon it? Set against the gritty apocalypse that began in Peeps, this story is about five teenagers who find themselves creating the soundtrack for the end of the world. (adapted from the inside flap)

OPINION: This book will draw you into a decaying New York City landscape, covered with garbage and infested with rats. But that's not the only thing...vampirism is spreading faster than the Night Watch can handle, and giant worms are surfacing from the depths of the earth. It could be the beginning of the end of civilization as we know it. At the same time, the main characters are busy composing strange songs and discarding names for their band. If you love music, vampires, or both, you will be intrigued by this paranormal, creepy story. It's fawesome!

TRIVIA: Every chapter in this book is named after a band. An endnote explains them all. Very cool!

AUTHOR: Scott Westerfeld's blog is a great read, so go there and visit!

Who Is Jordan Sonnenblick??

And why should you care? Because he wrote Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, a tender, heartfelt book with kicka$$ drumming. It seriously needs a soundtrack. Anyway, we have it in our YA section. Find out how it got published (a wild story) and learn about his new book in this Q & A with Publisher's Weekly!